A problem we have in this respect in the U.K. is companies that call for marketing etc. but give out CLID which is an 0845 or 0870 number instead of the actual calling line or a main switchboard POTS number.
0845 and 0870 are special "area" codes which are charged at higher than normal rates. Historically, they started out life as special numbers which were charged at the same rates as a local or a national long-distance call respectively, but they've now morphed into what are effectively premium-rate numbers, just not so expensive as 09 numbers (that latter being akin to the modern use of American 900 numbers).
Because of the historical background, large numbers of people don't realize that 0845 and 0870 can sometimes cost them many times the price of a regular call, nor do they realize that in many cases the company they are calling is getting a cut of the charges. The problem is compounded by the fact that many organizations -- including government offices -- still falsely advertise that 0845/0870 calls are the same as a normal local/national call.
So somebody sees a missed call, phones back on 0845/0870, and without realizing it gets charged up to 10 times what a normal call would cost, part of it going to the receiving end, only to discover that it was some sleazy sales call or dubious "market survey."
